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Monkey plant

About Monkey plant

Monkey plant is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Monkey plant likes soil that is well draining. You may want to supplement with a gentle, organic fertilizer throughout the peak growing season.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Ruellia makoyana

Genus

Ruellia

Family

Acanthaceae

Order

Lamiales

Also known as

Trailing velvet plant

How to care for Monkey plant

💦 Water

How often to water your Monkey plant

Monkey plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Monkey plant in your home

Monkey plant love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Monkey plant does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Monkey plant in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Monkey plant

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Monkey plant: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Monkey plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #MonkeyPlant

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Monkey plant prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Monkey plant Water Frequency →

Monkey plant Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Monkey plant requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Monkey plant Light Requirements →

Monkey plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Monkey plant is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Monkey plant does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Monkey plant →

Best Pots for Monkey plant →

When and How to Successfully Repot Monkey plant →

What Are Healthy Monkey plant Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Monkey plant is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Monkey plant →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Monkey plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Monkey plant Temperature Tolerance →

Monkey plant Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Monkey plant →

When to Plant Monkey plant →

How to Plant Monkey plant →

Where to Plant Monkey plant →

Winter Care for Monkey plant →

Best Companion Plants for Monkey plant →

Is Monkey plant a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Monkey plant, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.